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David
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
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Will the schooling for an anesthesiologist be easy or will I have to retake some college classes?
will the college classes be on going or will I have to retake some just to pass the class.
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3 answers
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
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Australia
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Dr’s Answer
Hey David!
It's awesome that you're thinking about becoming an Anesthesiologist — it's such a rewarding career, but you're absolutely right to wonder about the schooling journey ahead.
To answer your question — the path to becoming an Anesthesiologist is definitely challenging, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. The difficulty really depends on your passion, study habits, and how well you understand subjects like biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
The educational path looks like this:
1. 4 years of college (Bachelor's Degree) — typically in Biology, Chemistry, or another pre-med field.
2. 4 years of Medical School — where you'll dive deep into medicine, including classes and clinical experience.
3. 4 years of Residency Training — specializing in anesthesiology, working directly with patients.
4. (Optional) 1-year Fellowship — if you want to specialize further, like in pain management or pediatric anesthesia.
✅ Here's the truth — you might have to retake some classes along the way if they don't go as planned. Medical school is known to be tough, and almost every student struggles at some point. But that doesn't mean you're not cut out for the job! It just means you're learning and growing. The key is to never give up if you're truly passionate about the career.
If you're already thinking ahead about how difficult it might be, I'd encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself:
👉 What excites me about being an anesthesiologist?
👉 Am I passionate about helping people, even in high-pressure situations?
👉 Am I ready to commit to years of studying to make this dream happen?
If the answer is YES — then you're already on the right path!
Optional Next Steps:
Start researching Pre-Med programs at colleges you're interested in.
Volunteer at a hospital or shadow a medical professional to get a feel for the field.
Take extra science classes in high school or join a medical club to build your knowledge early.
The journey might be long, but if you're driven by passion, you'll surprise yourself with how far you can go.
Wishing you all the best on your future in medicine — you've got this buddy all the best!
It's awesome that you're thinking about becoming an Anesthesiologist — it's such a rewarding career, but you're absolutely right to wonder about the schooling journey ahead.
To answer your question — the path to becoming an Anesthesiologist is definitely challenging, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. The difficulty really depends on your passion, study habits, and how well you understand subjects like biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
The educational path looks like this:
1. 4 years of college (Bachelor's Degree) — typically in Biology, Chemistry, or another pre-med field.
2. 4 years of Medical School — where you'll dive deep into medicine, including classes and clinical experience.
3. 4 years of Residency Training — specializing in anesthesiology, working directly with patients.
4. (Optional) 1-year Fellowship — if you want to specialize further, like in pain management or pediatric anesthesia.
✅ Here's the truth — you might have to retake some classes along the way if they don't go as planned. Medical school is known to be tough, and almost every student struggles at some point. But that doesn't mean you're not cut out for the job! It just means you're learning and growing. The key is to never give up if you're truly passionate about the career.
If you're already thinking ahead about how difficult it might be, I'd encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself:
👉 What excites me about being an anesthesiologist?
👉 Am I passionate about helping people, even in high-pressure situations?
👉 Am I ready to commit to years of studying to make this dream happen?
If the answer is YES — then you're already on the right path!
Optional Next Steps:
Start researching Pre-Med programs at colleges you're interested in.
Volunteer at a hospital or shadow a medical professional to get a feel for the field.
Take extra science classes in high school or join a medical club to build your knowledge early.
The journey might be long, but if you're driven by passion, you'll surprise yourself with how far you can go.
Wishing you all the best on your future in medicine — you've got this buddy all the best!
Michelle M.
Actress
2296
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, David !
I am really sorry to know that you have not been informed about the career of an Anesthesiologist that you're interested in and what it entails and the courses you'd need to take plus requiring attendance at Medical School. It is a 12 - 13 year educational path depending on if you do the 1 year fellowship. So you'd be in college and Medical School a long time.
You can measure how difficult it would be for you depending on what grades you are getting in high school in anatomy and chemistry. If you find these subjects difficult or hard to grasp, then college and Medical School will be difficult for you. If you're getting A's and B's in these high school subjects, then you will have a smooth time. It's all about UNDERSTANDING what you learn and there is an enormous amount to learn to become any type of doctor, especially an anesthesiologist which has a life or death capability every time you work on a patient.
You're already thinking you'd fail some courses, so I am wondering what your mission is for wanting to be a doctor. No one can tell you today which classes you will pass or fail. If you are exploring this career, you would need to ask questions about the academic subjects as well as the work entailed as a doctor.
As I mentioned before, the college and medical school courses will be ongoing for 12 - 13 years. There's the exception of your clinicals and residency at which you'd actually work on patients. The Minneapolis Surgical Center Anesthesiologists requests that you visit or call them or go to their website to learn about this career.
My advice is to give yourself time to discover a career that you feel 100% comfortable with. There are many careers within and without the medical field that you can also explore.
I am really sorry to know that you have not been informed about the career of an Anesthesiologist that you're interested in and what it entails and the courses you'd need to take plus requiring attendance at Medical School. It is a 12 - 13 year educational path depending on if you do the 1 year fellowship. So you'd be in college and Medical School a long time.
You can measure how difficult it would be for you depending on what grades you are getting in high school in anatomy and chemistry. If you find these subjects difficult or hard to grasp, then college and Medical School will be difficult for you. If you're getting A's and B's in these high school subjects, then you will have a smooth time. It's all about UNDERSTANDING what you learn and there is an enormous amount to learn to become any type of doctor, especially an anesthesiologist which has a life or death capability every time you work on a patient.
You're already thinking you'd fail some courses, so I am wondering what your mission is for wanting to be a doctor. No one can tell you today which classes you will pass or fail. If you are exploring this career, you would need to ask questions about the academic subjects as well as the work entailed as a doctor.
As I mentioned before, the college and medical school courses will be ongoing for 12 - 13 years. There's the exception of your clinicals and residency at which you'd actually work on patients. The Minneapolis Surgical Center Anesthesiologists requests that you visit or call them or go to their website to learn about this career.
My advice is to give yourself time to discover a career that you feel 100% comfortable with. There are many careers within and without the medical field that you can also explore.
Absolutely, Michelle! Understanding the academic demands of becoming an anesthesiologist is crucial. Your advice about self-assessing strengths in science and exploring different medical careers is spot on. Passion combined with self-awareness can guide the best career choice.
Solid Advice! 🙌
Dr H
Rafael Diaz Montelongo
Consultant
370
Answers
Raleigh, North Carolina
Updated
Rafael’s Answer
Hi David,
Becoming an anesthesiologist is a bit of a marathon, but it’s totally worth it if you are up for the challenge! You will start with a bachelor's degree, focusing on pre-med courses like biology and chemistry. Remember to keep a good GPA because medical school is next, and it is a wild ride through four years of intense learning. After that, you dive into a four-year anesthesiology residency to get hands-on experience. You will need to do the the MCAT and board certifications along the way.Do not worry to retake a class or two—everyone has their tough subjects! Learn from your experience. With dedication, you will be on your way to a rewarding career helping others!
Becoming an anesthesiologist is a bit of a marathon, but it’s totally worth it if you are up for the challenge! You will start with a bachelor's degree, focusing on pre-med courses like biology and chemistry. Remember to keep a good GPA because medical school is next, and it is a wild ride through four years of intense learning. After that, you dive into a four-year anesthesiology residency to get hands-on experience. You will need to do the the MCAT and board certifications along the way.Do not worry to retake a class or two—everyone has their tough subjects! Learn from your experience. With dedication, you will be on your way to a rewarding career helping others!